Rise Up

Chapter 21

When I reached him, he was talking with Richard and holding a crossbow.

“Daryl,” I said.

He turned and looked at me.

“What’s going on?” I asked when I got closer.

“We’re gonna take care of some things. You’re welcome to join us,” Richard said.

“What are you doing?” I asked Daryl.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said.

“Seriously?” I retorted.

“Richard and I are going to take care of business,” Daryl said.

“And what does that mean exactly?” I retorted crossing my arms.

“Come on, let’s go,” Daryl called to Richard.

“I’m coming with you,” I said.

“No,” Daryl said.

“You can’t stop me,” I challenged.

“Like you said, we aren’t losing any more people. And it don’t matter if your feelings towards me have changed, I can’t lose you,” he said.

“Daryl. Don’t do this,” I said.

He just looked at me and then took off with Richard at his side.

“Daryl!” I called.

But he kept walking. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to follow him but he didn’t want me to. What the hell did he mean by me not feeling the same way about him? Was that what he gathered from what I said? I needed to talk to him. A few minutes passed and Morgan made his way over to me.

“Amelia? Are you okay?” he asked when he got closer.

“No. Not really. I...I don’t know what to do, Morgan,” I said.

“Where’d Daryl go?” he asked looking in the same direction I was.

“He went with Richard. He didn’t tell me where but he took a crossbow,” I said.

I looked at him.

“Do you have any idea where Richard would go? Morgan, please. I have to go and bring him back. I shouldn’t have let him go,” I said getting slightly choked up.

“I don’t know Richard all that well. But...there is something that you need to know,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“Carol...she’s nearby,” Morgan said.

“What? Where?” I asked.

“In a house about twenty minutes or more from here,” he said.

“Why didn’t you tell the others?” I asked.

“Because she asked me not to. She wants to be on her own,” he answered.

“Why tell me?” I asked.

“Because knowing Daryl, he may stumble upon it. And maybe that’s where he’d go. And because you are the only one that seems to understand why I believe what I believe,” he said.

“I’m not giving up on you, Morgan. Thank you for telling me. I better go and get ready,” I said.

“You’re going off by yourself?” he asked.

“Yeah. I can handle myself,” I said.

“I don’t doubt that. But you sure you don’t want any company?” he said.